Many people wonder whether to write 22th or 22nd. The doubt is understandable, because most English ordinal numbers end in “th”, such as 4th, 5th and 20th.
This article gives you the correct form right away. It then explains the rule behind it, shows example sentences and covers the mistakes people make with similar numbers.
Quick Answer: 22nd Is Correct
The correct form is 22nd. It is the short way to write “twenty-second”. The “nd” comes from the last word in the full spelling, which is “second”. “22th” is not standard English.
22th or 22nd at a Glance
This table shows where each form fits. The examples are illustrative sentences written for this article.
| Form | Correct? | Example | How to tell |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22nd | Yes | Her 22nd birthday is on Friday. | The number ends in 2 (but not 12) |
| 22th | No | Her 22th birthday is on Friday. | Wrong suffix for a number ending in 2 |
| twenty-second | Yes | He finished twenty-second in the race. | Full written form of 22nd |
| 12th | Yes | It was the 12th day of the month. | 12 is an exception and takes “th” |
Why 22nd Uses “nd” and Not “th”
An ordinal number shows position in a series. First, second and third are the base forms for the numbers 1, 2 and 3. Larger numbers copy the ending of their last word.
When you write a number like 22, only the last part changes into ordinal form. That means twenty-two becomes twenty-second. The abbreviation then uses the last two letters of the full word. As Break Into English explains in its guide to ordinal numbers, twenty-second ends in “nd”, so the short form is 22nd.
Most other numbers follow a different pattern. Numbers such as 4, 5 and 6 use “th” because their ordinal words are fourth, fifth and sixth. People often apply that general rule to 22 by mistake. The result is the incorrect “22th”.
The Suffix Rule You Can Remember
You can use a simple pattern for most numbers. Look at the last digit and choose the ending.
- Ends in 1: use “st”, as in 21st, 31st and 101st
- Ends in 2: use “nd”, as in 22nd, 32nd and 102nd
- Ends in 3: use “rd”, as in 23rd, 33rd and 103rd
- Everything else: use “th”, as in 24th, 25th and 30th
There is one important exception. The numbers 11, 12 and 13 always take “th”. So write 11th, 12th and 13th, not 11st, 12nd or 13rd. This exception applies only to those three numbers. It does not affect 21, 22 or 23, which keep the regular endings.
How to Use 22nd in Sentences
The ordinal 22nd appears most often in dates, birthdays and rankings. Here are some example sentences to show the pattern.
Dates
- The meeting is on October 22nd.
- We moved in on the 22nd of March.
Birthdays and anniversaries
- Today is her 22nd birthday.
- They celebrated their 22nd anniversary last week.
Rankings and positions
- She ranked 22nd in the national contest.
- It was his 22nd win of the season.
Both “October 22nd” and “22nd October” are acceptable in everyday writing. Which one you choose depends on the style you follow or the English variety you use.
Numerals or Words: Which Should You Write?
Style guides differ, so check the one your school or publisher uses. In casual writing and dates, numerals such as 22nd are common and easy to read. In formal prose, some writers spell out the full word “twenty-second”.
Use a hyphen in the written form. Compound numbers from 21 to 99 take one, so “twenty-second” is correct and “twenty second” is not. In the numeral form, the letters “nd” are often written at the same height as the number. Many writers do not use superscript in plain text, and either style is understood.
Common Mistakes With Ordinal Numbers
Several errors come up again and again. Knowing them helps you check your own writing.
Writing 22th
This is the main mistake. Replace it with 22nd every time.
Treating 12 like 22.
The number 12 ends in “th” as 12th. The number 22 ends in “nd” as 22nd. The two look alike but follow different rules.
Mixing up 23 and 33
Numbers ending in 3 take “rd” as 23rd and 33rd, except for 13, which takes “th”.
Dropping the hyphen
Write “twenty-second”, not “twenty second”.
Using the cardinal form by accident.
“On the twenty-two floor” should be “on the twenty-second floor”. The ordinal form shows position.
How to Say 22nd Aloud
Say it as “twenty-second”. Do not say “twenty-two-th” or “twenty-twoth”. The stress usually falls on the first syllable of each part: TWEN-ty SEC-ond.
In dates, many speakers add “the” before the number, as in “the twenty-second of October”. In American English, speakers often say “October twenty-second” without “the”.
Related Forms You May Also Search
People who look up 22nd often check similar numbers too. The same logic applies to all of them.
- 32nd: thirty-second
- 42nd: forty-second
- 52nd: fifty-second
- 102nd: one hundred second
Every number that ends in 2 follows the “nd” pattern, with 12 as the only exception. If you remember “second”, you can handle all of them.
Conclusion
The right choice is 22nd, not 22th. The ending comes from the word “second”, and every number ending in 2 follows the same pattern except 12. The full written form is “twenty-second”, and it keeps the hyphen.
When you are unsure about any ordinal, look at the last digit and apply the simple rule. Numbers ending in 1 take “st”, numbers ending in 2 take “nd” and numbers ending in 3 take “rd”. Almost everything else takes “th”, and 11, 12 and 13 are the exceptions to remember.
Use the same approach for dates, birthdays, anniversaries and rankings. In formal writing, you can spell the number out as “twenty-second” if your style guide prefers words. With this rule in mind, you can write 22nd, 32nd and 42nd with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it 22th or 22nd?
It is 22nd. The short form comes from “twenty-second”, and the “nd” matches the ending of the word “second”. Writing 22th is a common spelling mistake, so avoid it in both formal and casual writing.
How do you spell 22nd in words?
Write “twenty-second” with a hyphen between the two parts. Compound numbers from 21 to 99 always take a hyphen. Leaving it out, as in “twenty second”, is a frequent error.
Why is 12th not 12nd?
The numbers 11, 12 and 13 are exceptions to the usual pattern. They always take “th”, so the correct forms are 11th, 12th and 13th. The exception does not apply to 21, 22 or 23, which keep “st”, “nd” and “rd”.
Do I write October 22nd or 22nd October?
Both are acceptable in everyday writing. The first order is common in American English and the second in British English. Pick one style and use it consistently throughout your document.
Is 22th ever correct?
No. It is a common spelling error that comes from applying the general “th” rule to a number that has its own pattern. The standard ordinal for 22 is 22nd in every context, including dates, birthdays and rankings.
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